Table of Contents

Prologue 1. The Diversity of Languages 2. Interpreting Language Diversity 3. Multilingual Abilities 4. The Emergence and Measurement of Multilingualism 5. The Consequences of Babel: Lingua Francas 6. The Consequences of Babel: Translation 7. Keeping Languages Pure 8. Languages and Identities in Transition 9. Endangered Languages and the Will to Survive 10. Linguistic Intervention and the "New" Ecology of Language Epilogue Notes and References Index

Promotional Information

Examines the dynamics of a multilingual planet, offering us a snapshot of a globalized society.

About the Author

John Edwards is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He is the author of many books, and the editor of the Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development.

Reviews

John Edwards has written a book about everything that happens when languages meet, a book about ‘the social life of language'. With his encyclopaedic knowledge he composed a small but complete encyclopedia of multilingualism that has an intriguing fact or an original insight on every page. Before readers realize that the subject-matter is complicated, they have already understood it, since Edwards wears his knowledge lightly and writes with apparent ease. A book for everyone who has to cope with diverse languages, that is, according to this book, nearly everyone.
*Abram de Swaan, Emeritus Professor of Social Science, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands*

Divided into 10 chapters on themes such as language diversity, multilingualism, bridging means across languages, language survival and intervention, this is the most readable textbook I have ever come across... This seemingly light yet profoundly rich book, with its span across the entire language diversity scene, cannot fail to spark enthusiasm... Its apparent simplicity, clarity and colourful asides make it an unforgettable reading experience.
*Times Higher Education Supplement (Textbook Guide)*